Day: October 27, 2016

Knicks 2017 Roundtable: Porzingis’ Efficiency

Over/Under: Porzingis’ TS% .54% (last year 51.8%)

Fisher-Cohen: OVER! KP’s major issues last season were stamina and the triangle offense. The triangle is hopefully pretty much gone, and the new coach has a history of success utilizing what should be Porzingis’s bread and butter: pick and pop. Frye and Markieff Morris thrived under Hornacek because he recognized the value of pick and pop, which is hopefully something he can repeat here in NY even if his guards are a lot worse.

The thing is, KP wasn’t a great three point shooter last year — 33% for the season. Things get interesting though when you look at his splits. Porzingis shot 38.7% from three in the first half of games and just 27.8% in the second half. If he can maintain that 38.7% shooting through entire games, he’s up to a 54.3% TS%. I’m hopeful that he can accomplish that.

Plugh: I’m also saying, emphatically, OVER! Hornacek understands how to use his new toy, as Max pointed out, and you can already see KP taking advantage of his new crossover, his comfortable spots on the floor, and his improved shooting mechanics. Over the summer it’s like they took a beautiful piece of sculpture and painted it in technicolor. Does that even make sense? Whatever. Go with it.

I also think the addition of penetrating point guards is going to improve his opportunities by leaps and bounds. You already see Porzingis passing up the contested, straight on three in favor of moving the ball, finding better position and shooting on the second go around. Last season he often felt the need to shoot from 5 feet behind the arc because he knew he wasn’t going to get another decent touch. Rose and Jennings will create havoc in the lane and get him some open looks from three, not to mention some sweet lobs around the rim. When I see how Brandon Jennings has turned Kyle O’Quinn into a close-range offensive threat, I start drooling thinking about KP’s run with the second unit.

Kurylo: I tried to determine this out as objectively as possible. So I took a look at all of the 20 year old rookies over the last 10 seasons that played 2000 or more minutes. Sorted by ts%, Porzingis was a spot above the median with 51.8% ts%. In the middle was Derrick Rose at 51.6%. Then I looked at a similar list of 21 year old second year players. The median of this group is Kyle Lowry (53.1%) and DeMar DeRozan (53.0%). Again Derrick Rose appears on this list, a spot above Lowry with 53.2%.

Based on this data, it’s possible that Porzingis tops 54% ts%. As you can see Monta Ellis did it, and he’s just 3 and a half spots above the median. Nonetheless the evidence isn’t in Zinger’s favor, so I’ll stick with the UNDER. Sure call me a pessimist, but one of us has to be right.

Rk Player Season Tm TS% WS PTS/36
1 James Harden 2010-11 OKC 0.598 7.1 16.4
2 Jonas Valanciunas 2013-14 TOR 0.579 6.7 14.5
3 Serge Ibaka 2010-11 OKC 0.579 7.6 13.1
4 Danilo Gallinari 2009-10 NYK 0.575 5.6 16.0
5 Eric Gordon 2009-10 LAC 0.571 3.2 16.9
6 Brook Lopez 2009-10 NJN 0.57 7.9 18.3
7 Gordon Hayward 2011-12 UTA 0.568 4.9 14.0
8 Gary Harris 2015-16 DEN 0.566 4 13.8
9 Greg Monroe 2011-12 DET 0.563 7 17.6
10 Ben McLemore 2014-15 SAC 0.552 2.5 13.4
11 Mike Conley 2008-09 MEM 0.548 4.5 12.8
12 Rudy Gay 2007-08 MEM 0.546 5 19.6
13 Monta Ellis 2006-07 GSW 0.545 4 17.4
14 Chris Paul 2006-07 NOK 0.537 8.8 16.9
15 Derrick Rose 2009-10 CHI 0.532 6 20.3
16 Kyle Lowry 2007-08 MEM 0.531 3.4 13.6
17 DeMar DeRozan 2010-11 TOR 0.53 3.2 17.8
18 Tristan Thompson 2012-13 CLE 0.516 5.2 13.4
19 Wilson Chandler 2008-09 NYK 0.515 3.1 15.6
20 Rajon Rondo 2007-08 BOS 0.515 7.2 12.7
21 Brandon Knight 2012-13 DET 0.511 1.1 15.2
22 Jerami Grant 2015-16 PHI 0.506 2.1 13.1
23 Michael Beasley 2009-10 MIA 0.505 4.6 17.9
24 John Wall 2011-12 WAS 0.502 3.5 16.2
25 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 2014-15 DET 0.501 2.8 14.5
26 Jared Sullinger 2013-14 BOS 0.497 3.9 17.3
27 Brandon Jennings 2010-11 MIL 0.493 3.9 16.9
28 Russell Westbrook 2009-10 OKC 0.491 6.1 16.9
29 Harrison Barnes 2013-14 GSW 0.486 3.2 12.1
30 Tyreke Evans 2010-11 SAC 0.482 1.6 17.3
31 Julius Randle 2015-16 LAL 0.482 1.6 14.5
32 Elfrid Payton 2015-16 ORL 0.478 2.2 13.1

Knicks Morning News (2016.10.27)

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose wants to play pick-and-roll ‘every time down’ for Knicks
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 7:57:28 PM)

    Derrick Rose is slow in picking up the Knicks’ offense because he missed more than two weeks of practices and games, but he sounds as if he misses Chicago more.

  • [NYTimes] Anthony Davis Puts Up 50 Points in Opener, but Pelicans Still Fall
    (Thursday, October 27, 2016 5:01:09 AM)

    Davis was dominant in his first game of the N.B.A. season, but he did not get enough help in a 107-102 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

  • [NYTimes] Spurs 129, Warriors 100: Warriors Blown Out by Spurs in Opener
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 5:06:47 PM)

    Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 35 points and the Spurs emphatically spoiled Kevin Durant’s first game for Golden State in a rout.

  • [NYPost] Hornacek sure these two Knicks starters will be offensive factors
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 8:42:50 PM)

    Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee made their Knicks debuts Tuesday and still are looking for their first points. The two new starters — who signed contracts that have a combined value of $122 million — were 0-for-6 shooting in posting goose eggs in the scoring column. Noah had just one shot attempt, missing an inside…

  • [NYPost] The Knicks have no defensive coach and a big problem
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 6:18:28 PM)

    New Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek had his trusty defensive coordinator at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night for the season opener. Except Mike Longabardi no longer works for Hornacek, instead commanding the Cavaliers’ defense. Longabardi, fired by Phoenix brass as a sacrificial lamb in December, received his championship ring after which Hornacek’s Knicks defense played…

  • [NYPost] Carmelo’s iso game showed how a failed Knicks year would look
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 2:08:21 PM)

    Carmelo Anthony was talking about his new teammate and his newest sidekick, Derrick Rose, maybe 40 minutes after the Knicks had opened their season with a humbling 117-88 thrashing at the hands of the Cavaliers on Tuesday night. Specifically, he was discussing the period of adjustment confronting Rose: old team to new, old system to…

  • [NYPost] Breaking down Kristaps Porzingis’ opening-night dud
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 8:16:23 AM)

    CLEVELAND – Kristaps Porzingis officially became an Adidas guy before the Knicks’ season opener Tuesday night. Nike decided against matching the sneaker deal, which is worth about $4.5 million annually, the largest ever for a European hoopster. Porzingis even released a statement, saying, “I’m a unique player and Adidas is a unique brand. I’m just…

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks drop opener to Cleveland
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 6:31:35 PM)

  • [SNY Knicks] TheKnicksBlog Podcast: Crushed in Cleveland
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 3:29:29 PM)

    TheKnicksBlog Podcast: Crushed in Cleveland

  • [SNY Knicks] Rose wants Knicks to utilize pick-and-roll more
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 3:20:53 PM)

    Knicks guard Derrick Rose said he wants the Knicks to use the pick-and-roll more in the team’s offense after Tuesday’s loss to the Cavaliers, according to Newsday’s Al Iannazzone.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks agree focus should shift to improving defense
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 9:47:35 AM)

    Following last night’s 117-88 opening-night loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek admitted that his team felt unsettled, especially on defense, where they’ll need to be more aggressive.

  • [SNY Knicks] Easy to spot the good and bad for Rose in Knicks debut
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 8:27:22 AM)

    Derrick Rose scored 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting in his New York Knicks’ debut Tuesday night, though he looked hesitant when handling the ball and didn’t take charge.

  • [NYDN] Jeff Hornacek needs to reshape Knicks’ triangle to fit Rose
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 12:40:45 PM)

    Derrick Rose hasn’t been around much, but in his brief time here he’s made it clear that the triangle offense confuses and frustrates him.

  • [ESPN] Thursday’s Knicks News: Hornacek needs to adjust offense to fit Rose
    (Thursday, October 27, 2016 5:37:28 AM)

    Thursday’s Knicks News: Hornacek needs to adjust offense to fit Rose

  • [ESPN] Wednesday’s Knicks News: LeBron, Cavs dominate Knicks on opening night
    (Wednesday, October 26, 2016 6:27:30 AM)

    Wednesday’s Knicks News: LeBron, Cavs dominate Knicks on opening night